Sir - Your report 'Saudi bidding hots up' (RG 3.08 p124) did not mention another consortium which has also been prequalified to submit a final BOT bid to construct the Western Railway between Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

This consortium includes Saudi Oger, El Seif Engineering Contracting, Italian national railway Ferrovie dello Stato, Russian Railways, Ansaldo STS company Ansaldo Trasporti Sistemi Ferroviari, AnsaldoBreda and Selex Sistemi Integrati.

A shortlist has not yet been drawn up and bidding is still in progress, following modifications to the client’s procurement criteria.

Giovanni Di Sorte
Vice-President, External Relations
Ansaldo STS
Genova,
Italy